Floating supporting structure for automatic washers



Dec. 4, 1945. P. E. GELDHOF ET AL FLOATING SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 2 3 5& h PM 2 m Q Fr d M a ma d E: v 5 2T 8 H- imlbilillllli i R] IQIQIIIIIIIIIIIII llll. .ll O O O w I! O O i O O NH mhv i 3 W Nb w 9 Luther Ringer.

Dec. 4, 1945. P. E. GELDHOF ET AL FLOATING SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f d T H i L; w. a? g: E? a m R P Q m mm MN m R x J. mm N+ +m 5 w m m IIHFL i if Ft 3 owmw J 4 w. 4\ In g Q wh 1 a Dec. 4, 1945. P. E. GELDHOF ET AL FLOATING SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nvamlmb; Peter Edward Geld/10f.

L uther' Ringer. Wm 5 1945- P. E. GELDHOF ET AL 2,390,213

I FLOATING SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M f ji -7 mw ITS/"Em UPS Peter Eduard GeLdhof. Luther Ringer.

Patented Dec. 4, 1945 FLOATING SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHERS Peter Eduard Geldhot and Luther Ringer, St. Joseph, Mich., assignors to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., a corporation of New York Original application December 2, 1940, Serial No. 368,190. Divided and this application May 1, 1943, Serial No. 485,294

Claims.

This invention relates to a novel supporting structure for an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine. It provides a means for resiliently supporting the complete operating and control mechanism for the machine within the rigid frame structure.

The instant application is a division of application Serial No. 368,190 entitled Automatic washer filed December 2, 1940 by Peter Eduard Geldhof and Luther Ringer and issued April 25, 1944, as Patent No. 2,347,190.

It is an object of the invention to support the mechanism of such a machine in substantially floating relation with respect to the rigid frame structure whereby the vibration or other operational shocks and jars initiated by its operation will at least be greatly minimized, if not completely eliminated.

A further object is to provide a certain degree of freedom of lateral movement for the mounting of the operating and control mechanism of automatic washing machines with respect to the rigid frame structure. This lateral movement of the mounting may be brought about by the fact that the shifting weight of the material being laundered produces an unbalanced load on said mounting. Such an unbalanced loading will create a swinging or vibratory motion of the receptacle particularly when it is rotated at high speeds, such as is the case, in the drying operation.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a plurality ofsuspensions for a washing tub assembly embodying concentrically arranged agitating and drying mechanism in the tub and con-' trol means associated with the bottom of the tub, all of which are disposed within a housing. These suspensions extend in the space between the bottom of the tub and the wall of the housing and each such suspension includes a supporting element and has an end cushioned in dampening means whereby a floating support is provided for the entire assembly inside of the housing.

In accordance with the general features of this invention there is provided in combination with a supporting frame, a floating base resiliently supported on said frame, a tub basket rotatably mounted within said tub, an agitator mounted for oscillation about substantially a vertical axis within said basket, and driving means for said basket and said agitator depending below and supported solely by said base.

The novel features which we believe characteristic of our invention are set forth with particubeing the lower portion of the machine;

- spider I3.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the machine along the line III-III of Figure 1, looking down on the floating mounting for the tub and drive mechanism;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through one of the tub mechanism supporting means, as taken along the line IV--IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of one of the lower suspension pad socket members taken along line V--V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 illustrates a modified form of floating assembly employing cables as suspension members; and

Figure 7 illustrates a further modified form of floating assembly employing springs as suspension and stabilizing members.

Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. The automatic washing machine which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes, in general, a casing III which houses the entire mechanism and conv trol therefor. The casing In is closed by a cover plate ll having a pivotally mounted lid or panel l2 mounted therein, through which the clothes and other articles to be washed may be placed into the machine.

Substantially all of the principal operating and control mechanism of the washing machine is mounted on and carried by the base member or Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, which together form a vertical sectional view through the machine, it will be observed that a wash tub 31 is mounted on the base I3, and rotatably mounted within the wash tub 31 is a perforated drying basket 38. Within the drying basket 38 is an agitator 39 which is arranged to be oscillated during the washing operation. Suspended from the under side of the base [3 is a motor 40, agitator transmission 4|, drier transmission 42, an extraction pump (not shown) and suitable clutch and control mechanisms (not shown).

As may be seen best in Figures 3 to 5, inclusive, substantially all of the operating mechanism of the washer is mounted on a floating base member or casting l3, which is suspended from the side walls of the casing l0. Secured to two of the inner faces of the casing H) are bars l4 which are bolted to the casing as at I 5. These bars are preferably of such length as to extend completely across the side on which they are mounted and around the adjacent corners in end portions I6. The other two inner faces of the casing l have angle irons I1 and I8 secured thereto by bolts [9 which pass through the casing, the end l6 of the bars l4, and the angle irons l1 and I8.

A pair of suspension brackets 20 are 'mounted across the corners of the casing l0 adjacent the angle iron l8. These suspension brackets 20 are preferably made of relatively thick stock (for example, half-inch stock) and are apertured at one end for the reception of the mounting bolt 21 which secures the brackets to the angle iron l8. The brackets 20 are provided with a pair of tapped holes 22 in their opposite ends for receiving a pair of bolts 23 whose heads are countersunk in the bar [4 and do not extend through the wall of easing l0. The supporting base or spider I3 is suspended directly from the angle iron l1 and the suspension brackets 28 by a set of suspension rods 24 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The tub, drying basket and agitator assembly, as shown in detail in Figure 1 includes a tub 31 having a base portion 43 which is centrally apertured to permit the drive shafts for the drier basket 38 and the agitator 39 to pass therethrough. The supporting base or spider I3 is also centrally apertured as at 44, into which the boss 45 of the casting 46 is fitted. The casting 46 has a threaded central opening through the boss 45 which receives the lower threaded end of the center post 41. This center post 41 has an outwardly projecting shoulder or flange 48 adjacent the threaded end portion 49 thereof. Suitable gaskets or sealing rings 50 and are placed on opposite sides of the base portion '43 around the central aperture, and the center post is then inserted through this opening and threaded into the casting 48 and screwed up tight. It will be understood that this center post 41 must make a fluid-tight seal with the base portion 43 of the tub 31 in order to prevent leakage of water from the tub.

The perforated drying basket 38 is carried on a hollow shaft 52 which extends up through the center post 41. While only a few relatively small number of holes are shown in the basket 38 in Figure 1 of the drawings, it will of course be understood that the entire basket is provided with perforations to permit the passage of water therefrom. This basket 38 is mounted on the end of the hollow shaft 52 by providing an intermediate collar 53 which is press-fitted or otherwise suitably secured on the upper end of the hollow shaft 52. The collar 53 is provided with a lower tapered shoulder 54, upon which the basket center post 55 is seated. The basket center post 55 is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the base portion 56 of the basket 38 by means of rivets 51 or the like. A reinforcing plate 58 is also provided to stiffen the base portion 55 of the basket.

The upper end of the basket center post 55 may advantageously be keyed to the intermediate collar 53 as at 59, and a retaining ring 50 is threaded onto the upper end of the intermediate collar member 53 to force the center post 55 tightly down onto the seat 54. A sleeve bearing 6| is provided within the stationary center post 41 in which the hollow shaft 52 rotates. A packing gland or sealing ring 62 is provided at the upper end of the sleeve bearing 81.

The hollow shaft 52, upon which is carried the perforated basket 38, is arranged to be rotated at relatively high speed (such, for example, as 650 R. P. M.) for the purpose of centrifugally drying any clothes or other articles carried in the basket 38.

Extending up through the center of the hollow shaft 52 is a solid shaft 63 upon which the agitator 39 is mounted. More specifically, the upper end of shaft 83 is splined as at 64 and is adapted to receive a complementary formation on a collar 65, which is press-fitted or otherwise secured in the upper end of the agitator 38. The agitator may be retained in place vertically by .means of a plate 65, which is bolted 0n the end of the shaft 63 as at 81. The shaft 53 passes up through a sleeve bearing 68 which is carried in the upper end of the hollow shaft 52.

The agitator 39 is shown as being of the multiple vane high center post type and is oscillated back and forth about a vertical axis to wash clothes and other articles in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The manner in which the agitator shaft 63 and the basket shaft 52 are vertically supported in the assembly may be seen best from inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings. The transmission 4! is housed within a casing formed or upper and lower castings 69 and 10, which halves are bolted together. This casing, comprising the upper and lower castings 69 and 10 is directly bolted to the under side of the base or spider 42 in a manner not shown. As shown in Figure 2, the lower casing casting 10 is provided with a depending boss 12 which is internally bored as at 13. The lower end of the agitator. shaft 83 extends down into the bore 13 and is seated on a steel ball 14 which acts as a thrust bearing for the shaft. The ball 14 is illustrated as being seated in a conical end portion 15 of the bore 13.

The shaft 83 extends up through the upper castin 89 in boss 16. Since the mechanism of the transmission 10 is arranged to run in oil or other suitable lubricant, a packing gland assembly is provided for the shaft 63 which includes a cup-shaped collar 11 in which a packing ring 18 is seated. A ring or washer 19 is slipped over the shaft 63 against the packing ring 18. A coil spring 88 which extends around the shaft between the washer or ring 18 and a second washer or ring 8| normally holds the packing gland assembly in desired position. A pin 82 on the shaft 63 limits the downward movement of the lower washer or ring 8|.

The basket-carrying shaft 52 is supported on and carried by the shaft 63, as may be seen from an inspection of Figure 2. More particularly, a sleeve bearing 83 is keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the lower end of the hollow shaft 52.

The sleeve bearing 83 has a lower foot or thrustbearin portion 84. Clamped on the shaft 63 below bearing 83 is a lower thrust-bearing member 85, on which the thrust-bearing foot portion 84 is seated. The member 85 is advantageously locked in place on the shaft 83 by means of a set screw or bolt 88. The lower portion of the member 85 is provided with a skirt 81 which overhangs the upper portion of the casting 69 at the point where the shaft 83 passes therethrough, to prevent foreign material from working down into the casing which houses the transmission 4|.

The driving mechanism for oscillating the agitator 39 and for whirling the perforated basket 38 is suspended from and mounted below the base plate or spider I3. Power is derived from an electric motor 40, which is supported by a bracket 88 which straddles the motor 40 and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a boss 09 formed on the under side of the base member I 3.

One particular manner of locating the motor 40 is to suspend it from the under side of the base member I3 in such a position that it lies directly opposite the suspension rod 24, which is carried by the angle iron I1. This particular location and orientation of the motor with respect to the point of suspension of the spider has been found to be advantageous since a substantially even distribution of weight thereon may thus be achieved.

other two suspension rods which are supported from the suspension brackets 20 are similar to the suspension rod connected to the angle iron I1 with the exception that the cover plate 34 of each of the former suspension rods and the sockets 29 are directly bolted to the brackets 20, rather than to the angle iron I1.

From the above description it will be understood that a floating mounting is provided for the supporting base or spider I3. It will also be noted that the rubber above the bolt head 26 in the lower socket 29 is under a compressive I force, while the rubber below the bolt head 26 The motor 40 drives the agitator 39 and suitable control mechanism through the transmission 4|. The motor 40 also drives the perforated basket 38 through the transmission and a clutch mechanism 42. The pump (not shown) is also directly driven from the motor 40.

The transmission 4| includes a drive shaft (not shown) which is directly driven from the motor 40 by a belt drive 9|. To thi end a suitable pulley 92 is secured to the rotor shaft 93 of the motor 40 and a second pulley 94 is mounted on a connecting shaft 95, which, in turn, is connected to the aforementioned drive shaft of the transmission 4|. The connecting shaft 95 is rotatably supported in the casing of the drier basket transmission and clutch mechanism 42.

As previously explained herein, the supporting base or spider I3 which carries the principal operating and control mechanism of the washing machine is resiliently suspended from angle iron I1 and suspension brackets 20 by means of w the suspension rods 24. The details of construction of the suspension rods 24 and their associated structure may be seen best from an examination of Figures 4 and 5. The opposite ends of the suspension rods 24 are each bored and tapped for the reception of the threaded shank of a bolt 25. These bolts 25 are provided with relatively large heads 20, which have a molded rubber cushioning pad formed therearound as at 21. A nut 28 is provided on each bolt 25 to limit the extent to/which the bolt may be screwed into the suspension rod 24.

Each cushioning pad 21 is contained within a suspension pad socket 29. The lower suspension pad socket 29 is closed off by means of a bracket 30 which is centrally apertured to permit free movement of the suspension rod 24 and the shank of its associated bolt 25 to freely move therein. The bracket or strap 30, however, prevents the rubber cushion pad 21 from coming out of the socket 29. The bracket or strap 30 is bolted to a pair of projecting ears 3| on the supporting base or spider I 3, as at 32, and is also bolted to the lower suspension pad socket 29 by bolts 33 which extend from the base of the socket 29 alongside of the rubber pad 21 (see Figure 5).

One of the upper suspension pad sockets 29 is closed by a cover plate 34 and is directly bolted to a slightly bent-up portion 35 of the angle iron I1 by bolts 36 which extend from the base of the socket 29 through the cover plate 34 and the bent-up portion 35 of the angle iron I1. The

in the upper socket member 29 is also subjected to a compressive force.

It has been found desirable under some circumstances to increase the mass of the base I3 above that whichis necessary to provide a member with suflicient strength to support the various washing machine mechanisms. By artificially loading the base I3, i. e., by making it abnormally heavy, its inertia is increased. This tends to reduce vibration in the machine.

Two modifications of the floating base suspension are shown in Figures 6 and 7. The modifications are similar to the view showing the suspension in Figure 4.

In the first modified form of suspension as shown in Figure 6 cables 91 are employed in place of the suspension rods 24. These cables 91 are preferably three in number and have their ends secured in cross plates 98 at the top and 99 at the bottom. The cross plates 8 of each cable are bolted as at I00 to the stationary supporting frame portions IOI. The lower plates 99 are bolted as at I02 to the ears 31 of the base or casting I3. The ends of the multi-strand cables 91 are preferably anchored in collars I03.

It has been found that when the ,base or cast-' more than in a vertical plane, it will at once be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this particular form of floating suspension is particularlytadvantageous for the present type of equipmen In Figure '7 of the drawings we have illustrated a third form of floating base suspension wherein heavy coil springs I04 are employed to suspend the base or casting I 3. Plugs I05 having appropriate spiral grooves therein are threaded into the ends of the coil spring I04 both at the top and at the bottom. These plugs I05 have a threaded stud portion I06 which extend through holes in the upper frame member portion I01'and the lower anchoring strap I08 and are secured thereto by nuts I09. The lower anchoring strap I08 is secured to theears 3| of the base or casting I3 in a manner previously described.

In addition to the suspension springs I04 in the form of the invention shown in Figure '7 a set of anchoring springs IIO are also employed. The lower springs I I0 have plug members I I I in each end which are similar to the plug members I05 and which are secured to anchoring straps H2 and H3 by nuts H4. The anchoring strap H2 is secured to the ears 3| of the base or casting I3 while the anchoring straps II3 are secured to stationary frame portions H5. The anchoring springs I I0 in conjunction with the suspension 9111188 I tend to dampen lateral vibration off course, be understoodthat we do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and we, therefore, contemplate by the asaoms- I basket and oscillate said agitator, said transmission mechanism being suspended from said base, and three supporting arms for suspending said base from said frame, said arms being resiliently appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A washing machine comprising a supporting frame, a floating base, a tub mounted on said base, a perforated basket rotatably mounted within said tub on said base, an agitator mounted within said basket on said base, a motor suspended from said base, transmission mechanism connecting said motor to selectively rotate said basket and oscillate said agitator, said transmission mechanism being suspended from said base, and a three-point floating support for said base on said supporting frame, said motor being so disposed as to lie substantially adjacent one of said points of support.

spirit and scope of our 2. A washing machine, a supporting frame, a

floating base, a tub mounted on said base, a perforated basket rotatably mounted within said tub on said base, an agitator mounted within said basket on said base,,a motor suspended from said base, transmission mechanism connecting said motor to selectively rotate said basket and oscillate said agitator, said transmission mechanism being suspended from said base, and three yieldably secured supporting arms on said frame secured to said bas at three spaced points, said points forming substantially an isosceles triangle, and said motor being disposed on said base so as to lie substantially adjacent the point forming the apex of the isosceles triangle, whereby vibration of the base due to an unbalanced load in said basket is substantially eliminated.

3. A washing machine comprising a supporting frame, a floating base, a tub mounted on said base, a perforated basket rotatably mounted within said tub on said base, an agitator mounted within said basket on said base, a motor suspended from said base, transmission mechanism connecting said motor to selectively rotate said secured to said frame at one end and resiliently secured to three spaced points on said base at the other end, said points being so located as to form an isosceles triangle, and said motor being so located on said base as to lie in close proximity to' the point forming the apex of the isosceles triangle.

4. A washing machin comprising a supporting frame, a floating base, a tub mounted on said base, a perforated basket rotatably mounted within said tub on said base, an agitator mounted within said basket on said base, a motor suspended from said base, transmission mechanism connecting'said motor to selectively rotate said basket and oscillate said agitator, said transmission mechanism being suspended from said base, and three supporting arms for suspending said base from said frame, said arms being resiliently secured to said frame at one end and resiliently secured to three spaced points on said base at the other end, said points being so located as to form an isosceles triangle, and said motor being so located on said base as to lie in close proximity to the point forming the apex of the isosceles triangle, said base being artificially loaded to greatly increase its normal mass, whereby vibration of said base du to an unbalanced load in said basket is substantially eliminated.

5. In a centrifugal type of washing machine, a washing tub assembly including concentrically arranged agitating and drying means in the tub and operating means for said agitating and drying mechanism associated with th bottom of the tub, a housing for said assembly, and means 40 for supporting the assembly in the housing comprising a plurality of suspensions between the bottom of the tub and the wall of the housing, each of said suspensions including a supporting element extending in the space between the tub and the housing and having an end cushioned in dampening means, said suspensions providing a'floating support for the entire assembly inside of said housing.

' PETER EDUARD GELDHOF.

LUTHER RINGER. 

